Hasil untuk "Asia and Eurasia, Africa, Pacific Area, and Antarctica"

Yang Xiao, Aso Mahmudi, Nick Thieberger et al.

Speech foundation models struggle with low-resource Pacific Indigenous languages because of severe data scarcity. Furthermore, full fine-tuning risks catastrophic forgetting. To address this gap, we present an empirical study adapting models to real-world Pacific datasets. We investigate how data volume and linguistic features affect adaptation success. Specifically, we evaluate strategies including Full Fine-Tuning and Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA). Additionally, we analyze a continual learning framework for sequentially acquiring multiple languages. We demonstrate that adapting to these distant languages causes severe internal representational drift. Consequently, these models face a strict plasticity and stability dilemma. While LoRA adapts well initially, it suffers from catastrophic forgetting during sequential learning. Ultimately, this study highlights the urgent need for robust adaptation strategies tailored to underrepresented languages.

Cédric Manouan, Miquilina Anagbah, N'guessan Yves-Roland Douha et al.

Africa's participation in modern AI development is constrained by severe infrastructural and policy gaps. Important barriers include limited access to high-performance computing (HPC), restricted cloud access due to payment system mismatches, volatile exchange rates, and strict data sovereignty laws that fragment regional collaboration between African Union (AU) member states. Although initiatives such as Cassava AI's network of AI factories to be deployed across the continent signal the growing interest in adopting AI in Africa, these projects remain very targeted, while continental adoption still requires better coordination between African stakeholders. Drawing on official declarations on AI adoption across the continent, this paper offers both qualitative and quantitative evidence that sustainable AI adoption requires robust digital foundations through balanced access to compute, data, and the energy that makes it possible. We refer to these foundations as the "right enablers", considering them as crucial components for success within the current context of the global AI race. We also introduce the \textit{Africa AI Compute Tracker (ACT)}, an interactive map to monitor the availability of AI-ready HPC systems throughout the continent. This tool represents the first open-source effort to consolidate data on Africa's evolving HPC landscape, and aims to encourage more transparency from local AI stakeholders while facilitating broader access for AI developers. The work presented in this paper underscores the urgency of tangible actions aimed at closing the AI divide and allowing Africa to actively shape its AI future.

Yoshida Noriaki

The article continues the study of the Japanese-language newspaper “ Urajio Nippo”, published in Vladivostok from 1917 to the 1930s, with an emphasis on its Russian-language version “Vladivo Nippo”. Based on the analysis of archival materials, including documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defense of Japan, as well as scientific publications, the author reconstructs the newspaper’s history in the context of the Japanese intervention in the Russian Far East and subsequent Soviet-Japanese relations. The focus of the work is the analysis of the goals and content of “Vladivo Nippo”, the release of which was initiated in April 1920 by the Japanese military authorities to promote propaganda among the Russian population and counter anti-Japanese sentiments. It is shown that the newspaper, as a commercial publication for the local Japanese diaspora, was also forced to perform propaganda functions under the control of the Special Service of the Japanese Army. The article also traces the fate of the publication after the withdrawal of Japanese troops in 1922, its adaptation to new political realities and its role in reflecting the life of the Japanese community in Vladivostok until 1931. Special attention is paid to such aspects as the repatriation of Japanese citizens, coverage of cultural events, such as the tour of the Ichikawa Sadanji II kabuki troupe in 1928, and the closure of the city to foreigners in the 1930s. The study demonstrates that “Vladivo Nippo” serves as a valuable historical source that reveals the multifaceted picture of the life of the Japanese diaspora, the mechanisms of propaganda under foreign occupation, and the complex nature of Soviet-Japanese relations during a crucial period in the history of the Far East.

Shin Haeng Lee

Using data from the seventh wave of the World Values Survey, this study examines how social media use shapes the negotiation of transnational identity in South Korea and Taiwan—two countries characterized by distinct forms of nationalism—and whether social capital moderates this relationship. A two-dimensional model encompassing local–global attachment and protectionism–openness was employed to identify latent classes of transnational identity. The findings reveal that nationalism significantly influences identity negotiation in both countries, with Taiwanese citizens exhibiting stronger global ties compared to Koreans. In addition, social media use reinforces local and protectionist identities in these countries, limiting transnational solidarity and amplifying exclusivity through algorithmically mediated digital networks. Notably, social capital moderates this dynamic by fostering global openness, particularly when trust in out-groups is high. This study highlights the intricate interplay between social media use, social capital, and transnational identity negotiation, contributing to a nuanced understanding of the cultural response to globalization in East Asia.

Kim En Un, Senchishcheva Mariya V.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin is a national hero of the Korean people, revered both in the DPRK and in the Republic of Korea. More than four and a half centuries after his heroic death, his image was actively revived by another historical figure, Park Chung-hee. General Park Chung-hee, who came to power through a military coup, ruled South Korea with an iron fist for 18 years. According to public opinion polls, this president has remained the most popular in the country's history for many years. His main achievement is the creation of the “economic miracle on the Hangang River”, which turned one of the poorest countries in the world into a prosperous state. President Park actively, persistently and skillfully introduced the heroic image of Naval Commander Yi Sun-sin into the public consciousness. The interpretation of the Admiral's historical role changed during the reign of Park Chung-hee. At first, Yi Sun-sin was portrayed as a patriot who gave his life in the fight against foreign invaders, an outstanding military leader and the creator of the world's first armored ship. Then, the image of a loyal subject came to the fore: an official who, despite the injustice of the higher authorities, never opposed them and continued to serve the government faithfully, without thinking about personal enrichment or fame. The study shows that through the prism of this historical figure, Park Chung-hee successfully consolidated his regime and legitimized his own policies based on nationalism and anti-communism.

Priscilla Muheki, Mirjana Pović, Somaya Saad et al.

In preparation for the International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly (GA) 2024, the first GA held in Africa, the African Network of Women in Astronomy (AfNWA) embarked on a visionary project: the creation of an inspiring storytelling book that showcases the remarkable journeys of professional female astronomers in Africa. This book is not merely a collection of biographies; it is a tapestry of resilience, passion, and scientific excellence woven through the lives of women who have ventured into the cosmos from the African continent. The primary aim of this book is twofold. Firstly, it seeks to bring greater visibility to women astronomers in Africa, highlighting their groundbreaking research and the personal stories that have shaped their careers. By shining a light on their achievements and awards, we hope to acknowledge their contributions to the field of astronomy and underscore the importance of diversity in science. Secondly, this book aspires to inspire and empower the next generation of scientists, particularly young women and girls across Africa. Through the personal narratives and professional achievements of these trailblazing astronomers and students in astronomy, we aim to spark curiosity, foster a love for science, and demonstrate that the sky is not the limit but just the beginning for those who dare to dream. As you delve into the stories within these pages, you will encounter a rich array of experiences and insights that reflect the unique challenges and triumphs women face in astronomy. From overcoming societal barriers to making groundbreaking discoveries, these women have carved paths that others can follow, proving that with determination and passion, the stars are within reach for everyone.

Kyle J. C. Hall, Maria J. Molina, Emily F. Wisinski et al.

Global weather patterns and regimes are heavily influenced by the dominant modes of Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) variability, including the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Tropical Pacific Decadal Variability (TPDV), North Pacific Meridional Mode (NPMM), and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). However, separating these modes of variability remains challenging due to their spatial overlap and possible nonlinear coupling, which violates the assumptions of traditional linear methods. We develop a Knowledge-Guided AutoEncoder (KGAE) that uses spectral constraints to identify physically interpretable modes, without the need for predefined temporal filters or thresholds. The KGAE separates ENSO-like modes on 2- and 3-7-year timescales and a decadal mode with characteristics reminiscent of the PDO and the NPMM, each with distinct spatial patterns. We demonstrate that the decadal mode modulates ENSO diversity (central Pacific versus eastern Pacific), and that a quasibiennial mode leads and follows the interannual mode, suggesting a role in ENSO onset and decay. When applied to climate model output, KGAEs reveal model-specific biases in ENSO diversity and seasonal timing. Finally, residual training isolates a primarily equatorial decadal mode, which may be a component of TPDV-related decadal variability, likely originating from advection linked to upwelling near the Galápagos Islands and the South Equatorial Current. Our results highlight how machine learning can uncover physically meaningful modes of Earth system variability and improve the representation and evaluation of variability across models and timescales.

Hugo Retief, Kayathri, Vigneswaran et al.

Reliable daily estimates of reservoir storage are pivotal for water allocation and drought response decisions in semiarid regions. Conventional rating curves at Loskop Dam, the primary storage on South Africa's Olifants River, have become increasingly uncertain owing to sedimentation and episodic drawdown. A 40 year Digital Earth Africa (DEA) surface area archive (1984-2024) fused with gauged water levels to develop data driven volume predictors that operate under a maximum 9.14%, a 90 day drawdown constraint. Four nested feature sets were examined: (i) raw water area, (ii) +a power law "calculated volume" proxy, (iii) +six river geometry metrics, and (iv) +full supply elevation. Five candidate algorithms, Gradient Boosting (GB), Random Forest (RF), Ridge (RI), Lasso (LA) and Elastic Net (EN), were tuned using a 20 draw random search and assessed with a five fold Timeseries Split to eliminate look ahead bias. Prediction errors were decomposed into two regimes: Low (<250 x 10^6 cubic meters) and High (>250 x 10^6 cubic meters) storage regimes. Ridge regression achieved the lowest cross validated RMSE (12.3 x 10^6 cubic meters), outperforming GB by 16% and RF by 7%. In regime terms, Ridge was superior in the Low band (18.0 ver. 22.7 MCM for GB) and tied RF in the High band (~12 MCM). In sample diagnostics showed GB's apparent dominance (6.8-5.4 MCM) to be an artefact of overfitting. A Ridge meta stacked ensemble combining GB, RF, and Ridge reduced full series RMSE to ~ 11 MCM (~ 3% of live capacity). We recommend (i) GB retrained daily for routine operations, (ii) Ridge for drought early warning, and (iii) the stacked blend for all weather dashboards. Quarterly rolling retraining and regime specific metrics are advised to maintain operational accuracy below the 5% threshold mandated by the Department of Water and Sanitation.

Novikova E.S., Nguyen Phu Huu

This paper's purpose is to examine the cooperation between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Vietnam, with a focus on its significance for the EAEU in ASEAN. The present state of affairs is considered from the perspective of Vietnam's ties with the EAEU, which includes Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia. The study is based on the dynamics of Vietnam's trade turnover with each of these countries, including import and export of goods, the structure of their categories, investment volume, and the number of investment projects in each country. The analysis of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the EAEU is another focus of the article, as well as identifying the FTA's function and its possible prospects. An independent attempt is made to define Vietnam's primary benefits and obstacles when compared with other ASEAN members. The paper’s findings can be applied to enhance bilateral relations between Vietnam and EAEU countries.

Abdul-Hakeem Omotayo, Ashery Mbilinyi, Lukman Ismaila et al.

Despite significant efforts to democratize artificial intelligence (AI), computer vision which is a sub-field of AI, still lags in Africa. A significant factor to this, is the limited access to computing resources, datasets, and collaborations. As a result, Africa's contribution to top-tier publications in this field has only been 0.06% over the past decade. Towards improving the computer vision field and making it more accessible and inclusive, this study analyzes 63,000 Scopus-indexed computer vision publications from Africa. We utilize large language models to automatically parse their abstracts, to identify and categorize topics and datasets. This resulted in listing more than 100 African datasets. Our objective is to provide a comprehensive taxonomy of dataset categories to facilitate better understanding and utilization of these resources. We also analyze collaboration trends of researchers within and outside the continent. Additionally, we conduct a large-scale questionnaire among African computer vision researchers to identify the structural barriers they believe require urgent attention. In conclusion, our study offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of computer vision research in Africa, to empower marginalized communities to participate in the design and development of computer vision systems.

George Boateng, Victor Kumbol

Recent AI advancements offer transformative potential for global education, yet their application often overlooks Africa's unique educational landscape. AfricAIED 2024 will address this gap, spotlighting efforts to develop AI in Education (AIED) systems tailored to Africa's needs. Building on the success of the inaugural workshop, AfricAIED 2024 will feature an online AI Hackathon focused on democratizing preparation for Ghana's National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ). Participants will create open-source AI tools leveraging resources from the Brilla AI project to level the academic playing field and enhance science and math education across Africa. The workshop will showcase top competitors' solutions, invite discussions on AIED opportunities and challenges in Africa, and highlight the latest advancements in AI education integration. AfricAIED 2024 aims to foster collaboration and innovation, amplifying African voices in the AIED community and driving positive change in African education through AI.

Harald Sippel

Bedauerliche Ereignisse führten in diesem Jahr zur erheblichen Beeinträchtigung unseres Alltags. Zur weiterhin bestehenden Pandemielage gesellte sich in den letzten Winterwochen das Kriegsgeschehen in der Ukraine mit drastischen Folgen auch für unser Leben in Deutschland, insbesondere die damit einhergehende Energiekrise. Die infolge dieser ungünstigen Gemengelage auftretenden Unwägbarkeiten verunmöglichten leider eine seriöse Planung der für Herbst 2022 intendierten Jahrestagung. Eine spätestens im Sommer vorzunehmende Verpflichtung möglicher Vortragender und eine ernstzunehmende Vorbereitung der aufwändigen Tagung mit unserem jeweiligen Kooperationspartner kann nicht ernsthaft erfolgen, wenn nicht feststeht, ob die Veranstaltung im Herbst überhaupt stattfinden kann, ob zu dieser Zeit für uns auch beheizte Räumlichkeiten am Tagungsort zur Verfügung stehen, und ob insbesondere eine ausreichende Zahl von Besucherinnen und Besuchern das Konferenzangebot anzunehmen bereit ist, die den erheblichen Einsatz personeller und materieller Ressourcen rechtfertigen könnte. Nach Einschätzung der Lage und Abwägung der Interessen hat der Vorstand der Gesellschaft für afrikanisches Recht e.V. daher beschlossen, im laufenden Jahr keine Konferenz auszurichten, die nächste Jahrestagung dafür aber nicht erst im Herbst, sondern bereits im Frühjahr 2023 zu veranstalten.

Barinov A.A.

This review analyzes the collective monograph “Japan: Civilization, Culture, Language 2022”. The main object of research for its authors was to identify the traditional foundations of contemporary Japanese society and cultural continuity for the sake of a deeper understanding of the structure and functioning of Japanese society. The result is an analysis of historical events, literary and linguistic trends, economic and legal system characterizing Japan today. The work also pays special attention to the Russian- Japanese relations, examines related issues of history, economy and religion of the XIX – XX centuries. As a conclusion the authors describe scientific challenges facing Japanologists nowadays.

Kazakov O.I.

After the defeat of the Japanese Empire in World War II, the country began to actually rebuild its political system and raise the economy destroyed by the war, relying on the Constitution of 1947. Clause 9 of the Japanese Constitution assumes that the country does not have a full-fledged armed forces, which led, on the one hand, to enslaving dependence of Japan in the field of security on the military-political alliance with the United States, and on the other hand, to building Japan's relations in the international arena, in fact, only with the help of “soft power”, which had no alternative to “hard power” in the form of forceful methods of influencing their opponents. Such “soft diplomacy” led to the positioning of Japan as a peace- loving country, winning the hearts of people with positive examples in the fields of culture, science and technology, successfully practicing “soft power” in the interests of its development. In recent years, the tense situation in the world has required Japan to increase the level of protection from external threats, which Japan sees primarily in the actions of China and the DPRK. As a result, Japan has come up with a more independent security and defense policy from the United States, relying on other countries and organizations, as well as revisiting its global role in the international arena. The process of change, leading to the formation of a real “hard power” in Japan, has already been launched and requires thorough expert study.

Domakhina Yu.A.

Nowadays, the Korean Peninsula is a long-term source of tension in the Asia-Pacific region. The international community is particularly concerned about the DPRK ’s nuclear missile program and Pyongyang’s tests, which a number of countries view as a serious threat to the regional security. Therefore, many international actors became involved in the situation around the Korean Peninsula. For several decades, certain countries have been making intensive efforts to solve this problem. Apart from China and Russia, Japan, the United States, and South Korea play a significant role in this process. The author analyzes the current situation on the Korean Peninsula, examines the degree of influence of the DPRK problem on the situation in the region and possible consequences for regional security. The article examines Japan’s policy towards North Korea, to counter which Tokyo is pursuing a course of strengthening the Japan–US alliance and increasing sanctions pressure. The North Korean factor is highlighted in the Japan –US–South Korea triangle. The author analyzes the role of trilateral defense cooperation, which has seen a significant expansion. The article describes various approaches to resolving the situation on the Korean Peninsula and identifies the most optimal scenario.

Abdijabar Yussuf Mohamed, Samuel Kang'ara Kamau

As the internet penetration rate in Africa increases, so does the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Along with this growth in internet access is the risk of cyberattacks to vulnerable IoT devices mushrooming in the African cyberspace. One way to determine IoT vulnerabilities is to find open ports within Africa s cyberspace. Our research leverages Shodan search engine, a powerful tool for discovering IoT devices facing the public internet, to find open ports across Africa. We conduct an analysis of our findings, ranking countries from most to least vulnerable to cyberattack. We find that South Africa,Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, and Nigeria are the five countries most susceptible to cyberattack on the continent. Further, 69.8% of devices having one of the five most commonly open internet ports have had past documented vulnerabilities. Following our analysis, we conclude with policy recommendations for both the public and private sector.

Daniele Cassese, Nicola Dimitri, Gianluca Breghi et al.

Invasive non-Typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) is one of the leading causes of blood stream infections in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially among children. iNTS can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in areas where malaria is endemic and difficult to treat, partly because of the emergence of antibiotic resistance. We developed a mathematical model to evaluate the impact of a vaccine for iNTS in 49 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Without vaccination we estimate 9.2 million new iNTS cases among children below 5 years old in these 49 countries from 2022 to 2038, 6.2 million of which between 2028 and 2038. The introduction of a 85% (95%) efficacy vaccine in 2028 would prevent 2.6 (2.9) million of these new infections. We provide the country-specific impact of a iNTS vaccine considering the different age structures and vaccine coverage levels.

Wei Lee Chin, Najib Noorashid

Effective communication plays a part in the success and the sustainability of tourism and hospitality management, including community-based tourism (CBT). In Brunei Darussalam, communication barriers have affected the growth of the CBT industry at both local and national levels. By analysing responses from 16 local CBT operators, this investigation focuses on aspects of communication and its channels in securing sustainability and empowerment of the CBT industry. This study found that the CBT ventures in Brunei include: (1) horizontal/lateral communication between CBT operators and sur-rounding communities; and (2) top-down communication and bottom-up accessibility between authorities, community leaders, and CBT owners. This paper further discusses how bureaucracy can impede the success of CBT operations, and how a collaborative approach between stakeholders has inspired the formulation of a new Interactional Model of Leadership and Empowerment among CBT stakeholders, which can be used to measure the efficacy of communication among stakeholders in the CBT industry.

Wizarat Shahida

The present World Order formulated at the end of the Second World War is crumbling. The UN has failed to resolve conflicts and bring peace. The issues of Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh and Palestine are the most outstanding examples of total failure of the UN. Kashmiris are being denied the right to selfdetermination promised to them by Security Council Resolutions 91 of 1951 and 122 of 1957 and Article 42 of The Hague Regulations 1907, while rich countries’ citizens have been exercising their right to selfdetermination on a regular basis. The World Order deteriorated further after the breakup of the Soviet Union and the resulting unipolar world. Heavy borrowings from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) by developing countries have made their debts unsustainable, while development has been elusive as events in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and several other countries reveal. Economic and social crises have also hit them hard, while political crisis is not just looming large, but consuming them wholly and is very destabilizing. Moreover, the permanent arms economies and the permanent war economies have brought a lot of miseries, destruction of infrastructure, bombing of civilians, bringing prosperity to rich armament producing countries. This is what the present economic order has given to developing countries during the last 75 years. The New World Order which can be glimpsed from the Belt and Road Initiative by China is a win-win model. It brings prosperity in both host and investing countries through income generation. Moreover, the replacing of the dollar and other hard currencies by local currencies and barter trade will ease the financial situation substantially and end US hegemony. The boycott of sanctions imposed by Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other bodies could also be the beginning of the end of the present international financial system and its replacement by an alternative system. And finally, while sovereign countries have been protecting their national interests without challenging the US narrative on terrorism, time has come to expose the hypocrisy and the double standards inherent in the western rhetoric

Butko A.A.

The article discusses the involvement of Southeast Asian countries in the initiatives promoted by Beijing and Washington, as well as the challenges and opportunities for its development stemming from this. The author emphasizes the increasing political and economic heft of ASEAN in the international scene and also its important role in the geopolitical confrontation between the PRC and the USA in the region. The strengthening of economic cooperation between the Association states and China is noted against the background of their increasingly deep cooperation with the US on security issues. The attempts of the United States and its allies to create infrastructure initiatives alternative to the Belt and Road Initiative are highlighted. Based on the fact that the US-Chinese competition is the main factor of tension in the region, it is concluded that the ASEAN countries continue the policy of involving other major players in regional processes. In the context of the changes taking place in the world, this creates favorable opportunities for Russia.